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NOTES 


ON  THE 


L  O  C  TT  S  T  A 


SEPTENTRIONALIS  AMERICANS  DECEM  SEPTIWA. 


BY  NATHANIEL  POTTER,  M,D, 

PROFESSOR  OP  THE  THEORY  AND  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE^  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY 
OP  MARYLAND,  &C,  &,C. 


"  Still  the  green  soil  with  joyful,  living  things 
Swarms  :  the  wide  air  is  full  of  joyous  ^nngs, 
And  myriads  still  are  happy  in  their  sleep." 

BBTANT 


BALTIMORE: 
PRINTED  BY  J.   ROBINSON 


1839. 


NOTES 

ON  THE 

LOCUSTA 

SEPTENTRIONALIS  AMERICANS  DECEM  SEPTIMA. 


BY  NATHANIEL  POTTER,  M,D, 

PROFESSOR  OF  THE  THEORY  AND  PRACTICE  OF  MEDICINE,  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  MARYLAND,  &C.  &C. 


"  Still  the  green  soil  with  joyful,  living1  thing's 
Swarms  :  the  wide  air  is  full  of  joyoustfing-a, 
And  myriads  still  are  happy  in  their  sleep." 

BRYANT. 


BALTIMORE: 

PRINTED  BY  J.  ROBINSON. 

| 

1839. 


BIOLOGY  LIBRARY 


BIOLOGY 
LIBRARY 


EXPLANATION  OF  THE  PLATE. 


Figure}.    Female  of  the  natural  size,    b,  The  ovipositor. 

Fig.      2.    Male  of  the  natural  size,     a,  a,  Scales  covering  the  membranes 

of  the  large  cavities 

Fig.      3.     Side  view  of  the  natural  size. 
fig.      4. 


Fig.      5. 

with  the  excavations  made  by  the  female  (a,  a,  a,  a,  «,  a,)  ;  6,  a 
part  of  the  wood  cut  away  so  show  the  situation  of  the  eggs. 

fig.      6.    An  egg  magnified  1000  times. 

Fig.      7.    A  young  insect  just  from  the  egg,  magnified  1000  times. 

fig.  8.  Ovipositor,  magnified  10  times,  to  show  the  saw  teeth  of  the 
edges,  (a,)  and  rasps  of  the  blade. 

Fig.  9.  Parts  of  the  ovipositor  separated  and  magnified,  showing  the 
form  of  the  saws  and  rasps,  (a,)  and  of  the  oviduct,  b. 

Fig.  10.  The  Rostrum  or  Snout  magnified,  to  show  the  capillaries,  (a,) 
slightly  protruded. 

Fig.  11.  A  section  of  the  chest  of  the  male  at  the  upper  ring,  showing 
the  internal  structure,  and  the  external  musical  membranes,  or 
drums,  a,  a,  The  posterior  walls  of  the  large  cavities  within  the 
chest,  being  white  silky  membranes.  6,  b,  The  external  musical 
membranes  or  drums,  c,  Two  bundles  of  muscular  fibres,  con- 
nected together  at  the  top,  and  to  the  sides  of  the  chest  at  the 
bottom  of  each,  d,  The  cavity  of  the  chest,  spanned  by  the  two 
bundles  of  muscular  fibres. 


ERRATA. 

Page    1 .  For  Mosse,  read  Moses. 

"     12.  For  of  fasciculi,  read  of  the  fascicule. 

"     17.  For  hybirnating,  read  hybcrnating. 

"     22.  For  Thycides,  read  Thyoides. 

"     24.  For  grass,  read  gross. 


M85B04 


NOTES,  &c.' 


THE  title  of  the  following  disquisition  admonishes  the  reader, 
that  he  is  not  to  expect  a  perfect  analysis  of  a  subject  environed 
by  so  many  difficulties,  and  that  we  cannot  avoid  some  obscurity, 
and  much  repetition.  The  irregularity  and  promiscuous  character 
of  our  notes,  observations  and  experiments,  will  render  it  still  more 
difficult  to  observe  a  lucid  order. 

As  we  are  not  the  first  who  have  essayed  this  difficult  problem, 
a  due  respect  for  our  predecessors  requires  us  to  notice  their  im- 
pressions. 

The  first  account  we  have  found,  is  from  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts, where  every  thing  remarkable  or  interesting  has  been  recorded 
for  the  benefit  of  the  past,  present  and  time  to  come.  It  is  to  be 
found  in  a  work  entitled  New  England's  Memorial,  written  by 
Nathaniel  Moreton,  in  1669.  He  witnessed  an  ascension  of  the 
locust  in  1663.  He  says  very  little  of  its  character,  but  mentions 
an  ancient  tradition  of  the  native  Indians,  which  associated  the 
ascension  with  the  appearance  of  pestilential  diseases.  Both  reason 
and  experience  shew  that  there  can  be  no  natural  connexion  be- 
tween two  occurrences,  that  must  either  be  the  offspring  of  imagi- 
nation or  accidental  coincidence. 

The  next  in  chronological  order  is  to  be  found  in  a  memorandum, 
left  by  the  Reverend  Andrew  Sandel,  Rector  of  the  Sweedish  Con- 
gregation, at  Philadelphia,  dated  1715.  He  scarcely  alludes  to 
the  character  of  the  insect,  but  states  a  fact  known  to  all  countries 
where  the  larger  varieties  of  the  cicadas  or  locusts  are  known — 
that  the  natives  use  them  as  an  article  of  diet.  Doctor  Pocock, 
and  other  travellers  through  .ZEgypt,  mention  the  Gryllus  Migra- 
torius  as  a  common  article  of  consumption. 

In  Dosley's  Annual  Register  for  1767,  we  have  a  more  particu- 
lar account  by  that  excellent  naturalist,  Mosa»  Bartram,  of  Penn- 


i?,  in  a  letter  addressed  to  Peter  Collinson,  Esq.  of  London. 
H^  gave  a  £cc<i  account  of  the  rise  and  progress,  both  as  to  habits 
and  appearance,  and  only  wanted  the  use  of  the  microscope  to 
have  accomplished  MUCH  more. 

In  the  10th  volume  of  Silliman's  Journal  of  Science  and  Arts, 
we  have  a  contribution  by  Doctor  S.  P.  Hildreth,  of  Marietta, 
dated  1829.  It  contains  many  useful  facts  and  reflections,  that 
have  been  corroborated  by  our  observations  and  experiments;  and 
if  he  had  called  to  his  aid  the  power  of  good  glasses,  he  would 
have  been  led  to  important  results. 

In  1834,  the  date  of  the  most  material  of  our  observations, 
James  R.  Williams,  of  this  city,  instituted  an  inquiry,  and  if  he 
had  been  permitted  to  devote  time  enough  to  the  pursuit,  would 
have  far  surpassed  his  predecessors,  as  he  availed  himself  of  the 
use  of  the  microscope,  and  discovered  something  of  the  anatomical 
character  we  afterwards  demonstrated. 

It  would  be  useless  to  enumerate  all  the  fugitive  papers  scatter- 
ed through  the  ephemeral  publications  of  the  last  and  present  cen- 
tury, as  they  contain  nothing  for  which  we  have  not  credited  those 
we  have  mentioned. 

During  the  ascension  of  1817,  we  entered  into  the  investigation 
with  all  the  enthusiasm  it  could  inspire,  and  contemplated  it  in 
every  aspect  we  could  place  it.  When  the  time  for  observation 
had  nearly  expired,  we  were  mortified  to  find  that  we  were  not 
much  nearer  a  definite  conclusion  than  we  were  in  1783,  when  the 
subject  first  attracted  our  attention.  We  now  perceived  the  cause 
of  our  failure,  and  determined  that,  should  there  occur  another  ascen- 
sion in  our  time,  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  power  of  magnifiers,  and 
prosecute  the  inquiry  under  more  favourable  auspices. 

As  our  professional  avocations  would  not  permit  us  to  devote 
our  whole  time  to  the  pursuit,  it  became  necessary  to  call  in  the 
aid  of  a  colleague  whose  knowledge  of  entomology,  and  industry 
could  be  relied  on.  These  qualifications  were  found  and  well  ex- 
emplified in  Mr.  Gideon  B.  Smith.  Should  our  labours  reflect  any 
light  on  so  obscure  a  subject,  the  credit  is  equally  due  to  him. 


As  we  have  adopted  the  old  Roman  name  locusta,  and  rejected 
the  modern  word  cicada,  it  behoves  us  to  assign  our  reasons  for 
dissenting  from  modern  naturalists.  It  must  have  occurred  to 
the  votaries  of  natural  history,  that  they  are  often  met  by  too 
great  a  propensity  to  generalise,  and  therefore  to  crowd  incon- 
gruous articles  into  the  same  genus.  While  it  seems  to  promote 
order  and  facilitate  study,  it  sometimes  operates  at  the  expense 
of  accuracy,  leaving  some  varieties  undefined  or  imperfectly 
described.  If  we  are  not  deceived,  the  sequel  will  show  that 
this  remark  applies  emphatically  to  the  locust.  Although  it  is 
exclusively  an  American  insect,  it  has  been  identified  with  a 
species  of  another  genus  that  belongs  to  the  Eastern  and  Southern 
continents.  It  has  been  unnaturally  forced  into  the  genus  Gryllus, 
and  thus  associated  with  the  numerous  varieties  of  the  cicadas,  to 
which  it  bears  some  analogies,  while  many  of  its  principal  charac- 
teristics are  at  variance  with  the  whole  tribe.  It  will  therefore 
appear,  upon  a  further  investigation,  that  foreign  naturalists,  (who 
knew  it  only  by  tradition)  have  conceived  a  very  imperfect  con- 
ception of  its  true  character. 

An  inquiry  into  its  anatomy  and  physiology  will  shew,  that  we 
cannot  run  a  parallel  through  the  two  genera,  nor  identify  the  lo- 
cust with  any  one  variety  of  either. 

The  genus  Gryllus  belongs  to  the  fifth  class  of  animals,  called 
Insecta.  It  comprehends  those  that  breathe  through  lateral  spiracles , 
and  whose  skins  are  bony,  and  covered  with  hair.  They  belong  to 
the  second  order,  Hemiptera,  with  semi-crustaceous  wings,  and  snout 
inflected.  The  antennas  are  cetaceous  and  bristle  shaped,  with  legs 
formed  for  leaping.  This  definition  embraces  the  whole  tribe  of 
cicadse,  which  consists  of  grasshoppers,  treehoppers  and  crickets; 
and  it  is  very  natural  (from  a  mere  prima  facie  resemblance,) 
that  naturalists  should  have  coupled  them  together.  Hence 
Linnseus  denominated  the  American  locust,  Cicada  Septemdecima  ; 
but  Fabricius,  sensible  of  some  discrepancy  he  has  not  explained, 
proposed  a  subgenus,  which  he  denominated  Tettigonia.  This  only 
evades  the  difficulty,  as  it  is  the  substitution  of  a  Greek  for  a  Latin 


6 

substantive ;  the  word  Terr/I  being  synonymous  with  cicada.  Those 
great  masters  have  been  imitated  by  all  their  successors,  and  have 
taken  the  Gnjllus  J\ligratorius,  the  great  architype  of  the  cicadas, 
as  their  pattern.  This  great  monarch  of  the  genus  has  given  the 
law  to  all  others,  not  only  to  his  own  subjects,  but  the  whole  sci- 
ence of  entomology,  where  the  faintest  similitude  can  be  found.  In 
common  parlance  and  scientific  writings,  we  find  the  same  error.  His 
history  presents  a  melancholy  retrospect  of  national  waste,  and  his 
return  is  held  up  in  terror  to  the  Eastern  and  Southern  continents. 
His  flights  are  marked  through  states  and  empires,  by  his  devasta- 
tions of  the  vegetable  kingdom,  and  his  name  is  coupled  with  pesti- 
lence and  famine,  two  of  the  great  scourges  of  the  human  race. 
He  constituted  one  of  the  seven  plagues  of  JEgypt,  and  was  threa- 
tened as  a  vindictive  visilation  by  the  prophet  Joel.  The  only 
atonement  he  has  made  for  all  the  miseries  he  has  inflicted,  is  the 
precarious  subsistence  he  afforded  (together  with  wild  honey)  to 
John  the  Baptist,  in  his  journey  through  the  wilderness. 

It  would  not  be  possible  at  this  remote  period,  to  ascertain  the 
precise  sense  in  which  the  Romans  entertained  the  words  locusta 
and  cicada.  They  employed  both,  but  there  is  no  word  in  the 
Greek  synonymous  with  locusta,  more  than  is  conveyed  by  Tfrr;|; 
and  they  must  either  have  intended  to  designate  two  different  in- 
sects, or,  with  the  moderns,  applied  the  word  locusta  to  the  larger, 
and  cicada  to  the  smaller  varieties  of  that  numerous  genus. 

A  brief  comparison  will  so  contract  the  two  genera,  that  our 
reasons  for  separating  them  will,  we  think,  be  conclusive. 

The  cicadae  are  herbivorous,  voracious  and  highly  destructive, 
while  the  locust  can  scarcely  be  said  to  subsist  on  vegetable  matter. 
They  have  no  teeth  nor  mandibles,  and  in  the  proper  sense,  no 
mouth.  It  imbibes  its  aliment  by  an  apparatus  that  belongs  to  none 
of  the  cicadae.  The  cicadae  have  jaws  and  teeth  which  arm  them 
with  the  power  of  destruction  to  the  vegetable  kingdom.  We 
were  lately  favoured  with  a  fine  opportunity  of  comparing  the 
great  monarch  of  the  cicadae  with  our  locust.  A  perfect  specimen, 
male  and  female,  of  the  Gryllus  Migratorius,  brought  from  -(Egypt 


by  Mr.  Mendez  I.  Cohen,  was  furnished  for  inspection  by  Doctor 
Joshua  I.  Cohen,  and  minutely  compared.    They  are  perfect  cicadse 
on  the  largest  scale,  with  large,  long  wings  that  cover  their  whole 
body,  like  a  long  frock  coat,  which  enable  them  to  fly  rapidly,  and 
to  a  great  distance.     Their  legs  are  powerful,  and  they  can  leap 
also  to  a  long  distance,  while  the  spindle  shanks  of  the  locust  do 
not  permit  such  an  action,  and  it  is  obliged  to  elevate  itself  prin- 
cipally by  its  wings,  having  no  lever  legs  to  raise  it  perpendicu- 
larly.    While  the  cicadse  elevate  themselves  in  a  perpendicular 
line  quickly,  the  locust  can  only  raise  itself  slowly,  horizontally. 
The  cicadae  breed  annually:  the  locust  once  in  seventeen  years. 
The  imaginary  resemblance  of  the  notes  of  the  cicadse  and  lo- 
cust, have  led  some  to  identify  them.     Such  a  notion  (if  it  be 
drawn  from  a  comparison  with  the  cicadae  of  Greece)  is  too  meta- 
phorical for  a  rationale.     While  it  is  admitted  there  is  a  resem- 
blance in  the  construction  of  their  vocal  organs,  we  cannot  claim 
for  the  American  songster  a  note  that  can  be  dignified  with  the  epi- 
thet musical.     The  cicadse  of  Greece  must  have  been  highly  gifted 
with  musical  powers,  to  have  been  celebrated  by  Homer,  who 
compares  the  strains  of  his  orators  to  the  sweetness  of  their  notes. 
How  differently  would  the  ear  of  the  imperial  poet  have  decided, 
if  he  had  been  condemned  to  listen  to  the  monotonous,  protracted 
twang  of  the  American  locust!     He  would  have  been  as  much 
pleased  with  the  scraping  of  a  scissor  grinder,  or  the  grating  of  a 
file.     There  are  a  few  of  our  cicadae  whose  notes  do  not  fall  un- 
gratefully on  the  ear,  but  most  of  them,  compare  literally  with 
the  rauca  cicada  of  Virgil,  which  could  not  have  been  intended  for 
a  compliment. 

The  male  only  issues  a  note,  which  is  the  signal  of  adult  age, 
and  is  immediately  followed  by  flight,  in  search  of  a  mate.  It  has 
been  variously  and  very  erroneously  represented,  both  as  to  its 
suavity  and  compass.  If  we  except  a  slight  variation,  when  the 
insect  is  disturbed  or  driven  from  its  place,  (when  it  is  louder  and 
more  obstreperous,)  it  is  single,  but  rises  and  falls  through  the  gra- 
dations ;  crescendo,  minuendo  et  cadendo.  It  has  been  likened  to 


8 

the  sounds  of  several  musical  instruments,  but  cannot  be  identified 
with  any.  A  duet,  with  the  bass  of  a  small  organ,  and  a  Jeicsharp, 
(or  rather  Jawsharp,  as  there  was  probably  no  such  instrument 
among  the  Jews,)  is  the  best  imitation  we  can  conceive. 

The  note  can  be  heard,  in  a  clear,  calm  atmosphere,  threeorjour 
hundred  yards,  but  is  not  so  astounding  as  it  has  been  represented, 
scarcely  interrupting  colloquial  intercourse.  When  thousands  unite 
in  the  same  choir,  the  universal  din  seems  to  compose  a  musical 
atmosphere,  upon  which  all  other  sounds  float  unmolested.  The 
note  is  never  heard  between  the  setting  and  rising  sun.  High  winds 
and  cloudy  weather  repress,  but  do  not  silence  it.  A  damp  air 
lessens  its  shrillness,  and  the  number  of  songsters.  Heavy  or  long 
continued  rains  put  a  period  to  the  whole  process;  but  it  is  re- 
sumed at  the  return  of  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  and  no  sooner  is  the 
water  evaporated  from  the  earth  and  surrounding  foliage,  than  the 
whole  choir  is  heard  in  full  glee.  While  the  note  is  issuing,  a  mi- 
nute inspection  perceives  a  tremblous  motion  of  the  body,  vibrating 
under  the  impulse  of  the  air  in  the  musical  cavities,  and  if  the  body 
be  touched  it  is  still  more  evident.  This  will  be  better  understood 
when  the  whole  apparatus  shall  have  been  described. 

The  external  appearance  of  the  full  grown  locust  bears  a  strong 
resemblance  to  the  common  horsefly*  It  is  from  an  inch  and  a 
quarter  to  an  inch  and  three  quarters  long,  and  from  three  eighths  to 
half  an  inch  in  diameter,  at  the  largest  part  of  the  body,  and,  in- 
cluding the  wings,  from  an  inch  and  a  half  to  an  inch  and  Jive  eighths. 

The  body  is  black,  except  the  Jour  rings  that  run  transversely  over 
it,  two  large  and  two  smaller,  all  tipped  with  orange. 

The  shape  of  the  head  is  a  good  miniature  picture  of  the  head  of 
the  elephant. 

The  eyes  are  red,  though  a  few  are  black,  and  very  prominent, 
which  increases  their  visual  power,  while  it  contracts  its  sphere, 
which  is  limited  to  less  than  two  Jeet,  as  may  be  demonstrated  by 
removing  them  beyond  that  distance  from  any  object  to  which  they 

*  Hyppobosca  Equina. 


9 

are  attached.  Probably  we  have  given  them  more  power  than 
they  possess,  and  we  think  it  will  be  found  they  cannot  see  so  far. 
Their  capacity  for  keen  vision  is  vastly  increased  by  the  almost 
incalculable  number  of  lenses,  with  which  the  eye  is  supplied ;  and 
those  so  convex  that  objects  invisible,  unless  through  a  microscope 
that  magnifies  a  hundred  andfijty  thousand,  is  clear  to  them.  With 
one  that  magnified  four  hundred  and  ninety  thousand,  we  counted 
the  lenses  with  sufficient  accuracy,  and  after  repeated  trials,  came 
to  the  conclusion,  that  there  were  ten  thousand  two  hundred,  not 
many  more  or  less.  This  mechanism  gives  the  power  of  seeing  in 
all  possible  directions,  and  we  will  presently  perceive  how  important 
it  is  to  the  economy  of  the  insect. 

We  have  already  alluded  to  the  peculiar  mechanism  of  the  in- 
struments by  which  the  locust  imbibes  its  aliment,  so  different  from 
those  of  the  cicada?.  They  are  exceedingly  minute,  and  on  a  su- 
perficial view,  unappropriated ;  but  with  a  fine  glass,  their  office  is 
designated  at  once. 

They  seek  nourishment  that  is  always  present  and  ready,  pre- 
pared for  the  instruments  through  which  they  are  to  receive  it. 
The  exhalation  from  vegetable  barks  forms  their  entire  subsistence. 
This  they  probably  could  not  find  without  exquisitely  keen  vision, 
as  they  have  no  olfactory  nerves,  that  can  be  demonstrated. 
We  are,  nevertheless,  not  to  infer  positively  that  they  can  neither 
hear  nor  smell.  We  must  search  for  another  apparatus  to  find 
the  conduit  of  their  nutriment.  The  antennae,  we  have  re- 
marked, are  bristle  shaped,  standing  between  the  eyes  and  the 
rostrum  or  beak  which  furnishes  the  avenue  through  which  the 
nourishment  is  conveyed.  It  is  in  this  sense  only  that  the  locust 
can  be  said  to  have  a  mouth.  There  are  three  exquisitely  fine  hairs 
appended  to  its  extreme  points,  by  which,  through  a  high  magnify- 
ing power,  we  see  them  distinctly  feeding  on  the  dewy  exhalation 
of  vegetable  barks — a  material  that  may  be  compared  to  the  in- 
sensible perspiration  of  the  animal  body ;  the  insensible  perspiration 
of  the  vegetable  skin.  Although  we  cannot  demonstrate  that  they 
are  tubular,  they  probably  act  by  capillary  attraction.  The  exquisite 
2 


10 

tenuity  of  the  exhalation  from  tender  vegetable  barks  is  such,  that 
the  imagination  can  scarcely  paint,  and  never  could  dream  of  it, 
without  the  finest  glasses.  If  it  were  possible,  it  might  bear  some 
faint  resemblance  to  the  fracture  of  a  diamond  of  the  first  water, 
bespangled  into  myriads  of  chrystals! 

There  are  two  varieties  of  the  decem  septima,  but  only  as  to  size 
or  magnitude.  The  minor  tribe  constitutes  about,  a  hundredth  part 
of  the  whole  race.  We  find  the  smaller  at  the  same  time  and  in 
the  same  places  with  the  larger  variety,  and  all  their  organs  and 
habits  the  same.  As  we  very  seldom  find  any  of  an  intermediate 
size,  it  may  be  a  question  whether  there  is  any  sexual  intercourse 
between  them  ?  The  negative  would  seem  to  argue  the  violation  of 
a  law  of  nature.  They  are  about  seven  eighths  of  an  inch  long, 
and  five  tenths  in  diameter. 

Although  the  locust  has  received  its  distinctive  appellation  from 
tbe  singularity  of  its  appearance  once  in  seventeen  years,  and  uni- 
form experience  confirms  it,  there,  are  still  some  who  fancy  they 
have  found  exceptions  to  this  law  of  nature.  The  want  of  obser- 
vation, and  too  much  credulity  in  popular  rumour,  has  led  them 
into  this  error. 

They  do  not  appear  at  the  same  time  over  the  whole  area  of 
their  nativity,  but  cover  the  whole  ground  by  the  same  family  once 
in  seventeen  years,  comprising  others  that  sometimes  intervene, 
both  having  inhabited  the  same  grounds  since  they  were  created. 
Although  all  the  families  are  uniform  in  their  ascension,  in  time  and 
place,  there  may  be  two  generations  in  the  same  place  oftener  than 
once  in  seventeen  years,  because  they  were  so  located  originally. 
Such  occurrences  have  confounded  and  deceived  many,  and  made 
them  sceptics.  Some  examples  within  our  own  observation  (and 
we  could  adduce  many  more)  will  solve  the  problem.  A  part  of 
Virginia  and  Maryland  will  be  sufficient.  Here  two  families  occu- 
py the  same  grounds  on  each  side  of  the  Potomac  river — a  part  of 
Loudon  county  on  the  South,  and  a  part  of  Montgomery  on  the 
north,  or  Maryland  side,  compose  one  section,  while  Fauquier 
county,  in  Virginia,  that  lies  adjacent  to  Loudon,  form  part  of  ano- 


11 

ther  section  that  runs  into  Loudon.  It  is  for  this  reason  that  we 
find  the  locust  twice  in  Loudon,  at  intervals  of  eight  and  nine  years, 
because  they  form  two  distinct  generations,  and  will  probably  re- 
main so  forever,  each  experiencing  its  own  decem  septennial  ascen- 
sion. 

It  would  be  as  tedious  as  it  would  be  unprofitable  to  detail  the 
periods  of  ascension  in  every  part  of  the  continent,  where  they  are 
known  to  have  appeared;  but  as  we  desire  to  satisfy  all  who  feel 
an  interest  in  the  matter,  wre  will  add  a  few  examples  of  the  chro- 
nology of  their  appearance  in  such  places  as  we  are  properly  ad- 
vised of.  Our  inquiries  on  this  head  have  not  been  as  extensive  as  we 
could  have  desired,  but  as  much  so  as  are  deemed  necessary  for  our 
purpose.  We  give  them  in  the  promiscuous  order  we  received  them. 
They  appeared  in  Louisiana  in  1829.  We  have  no  accounts  from 
Florida,  where  they  must  have  been  seen.  They  have  not  been  found 
(that  we  are  aware  of)  in  Mexico,  nor  in  any  other  South  American 
province.  They  appeared  at  Galliopolis,  in  Ohio,  in  1821,  and  in 
Muskingum  in  1829 — in  part  of  South  Carolina  and  Georgia  in 
1817  and  1834 — in  Middlesex  county,  in  Jersey,  in  1826 — in  parts 
of  Pennsylvania,  west  of  the  mountains,  in  1832 — in  Massachu- 
setts, near  Fall's  River,  in  1834 — and  in  the  greater  part  of  Mary- 
land in  1749,  1766,  1783,  1800,  1817  and  1834.  We  have  no 
account  from  North  Carolina,  but  they  must  have  appeared  there, 
as  they  have  been  found  in  all  the  adjacent  states.  We  are  at  a  still 
greater  loss  for  information  from  the  northern  and  eastern  parts  of 
the  continent.  We  have  none  from  the  states  of  New  York,  Con- 
necticut, Vermont,  Maine,  or  New  Hampshire,  though  they  were 
first  described  in  Massachusetts.  It  is  most  probable  they  pervade 
the  whole  continent,  though  it  is  possible  the  low  temperature  of 
the  far  north  may  draw  a  line  beyond  which  they  cannot  exist. 
This  remark,  nevertheless,  is  rather  intended  to  apply  to  the  Cana- 
das,  New  Brunswick  and  Nova  Scotia,  where,  (if  they  ever  were 
seen)  there  is  no  tradition.  Future  observations  must  decide  the 
extent  of  their  nativity. 

It  has  been  supposed  that  there  are  certain  localities  that  the  lo- 


12 

cust  instinctively  avoids,  though  they  are  sometimes  seen  there. 
This  hypothesis  supposes  that  such  places  are  unfit  for  the  purpo- 
ses of  propagation,  and  is  true  in  part,  but  requires  some  explana- 
tion. Instinct  always  directs  it  to  such  places  as  are  best  adapted 
to  its  economy.  We  find  it  on  the  mountain  tops,  and  in  the  plains, 
where  there  is  a  soil  to  rear  trees  and  shrubs,  without  which  there 
could  be  no  place  to  deposite  their  eggs.  They  are  equally  re- 
pelled by  a  rocky  and  a  sandy  soil,  in  neither  of  which  they  could 
find  subsistence,  or  construct  their  habitations.  They  do  not  bur- 
row in  a  soil  usually  saturated  with  water,  on  the  shores  of  water 
courses,  nor  the  margins  of  meadows  or  marshes ;  though  we  have 
them  down  the  declivities  of  hills,  till  they  are  repelled  by  a  cold, 
damp  soil. 

As  we  have  given  some  imperfect  description  of  the  note  of  the 
locust,  \ve  must  attempt  to  describe  the  instruments  by  which  it  is 
produced — a  task  the  more  difficult  because  we  cannot  judge  very 
accurately  by  comparing  them  with  any  thing.  There  is  some- 
thing in  vocal  music,  the  result  of  living  animal  matter,  that  art 
cannot  aspire  to,  nor  scarcely  imitate. 

If  we  view  the  body  externally,  we  perceive,  under  the  shoulders 
of  the  wings,  a  small,  delicate  membrane,  nearly  triangular,  and  con- 
vex,  with  fine,  long  ridges,  or  ribs  running  over  it.  It  resembles  a 
small  shell,  and  is  stretched  over  a  cavity,  in  the  chest,  like  the  head 
of  a  drum,  each  lower  angle  being  intimately  connected  with  a  fasci- 
culus of  muscular  fibres.  There  are  two  scales,  one  on  each  side  of 
the  thorax,  firmly  attached  above  and  below.  By  bending  the  body 
backwards,  they  are  elevated,  and  expose  two  larger  cavities,  covered 
by  an  exquisitely  fine,  silk-like  membrane.  Those  cavities  are  con- 
nected with  those  under  the  musical  membranes,  and  are  the  reservoirs 
of  air,  with  which  they  are  filled.  The  upper  ends  of  fasciculi  of 
muscular  fibres,  are  tied  doicn  to  the  inner  centre  of  the  breast  bone, 
and  the  lower  ends  pass  through  the  sides  of  the  posterior  cavity  of 
the  chest,  attached  by  a  ligament,  to  the  inferior  angle  of  the  musical 
membrane,  forming  together,  a  triangle,  and  span  the  chest  like  the 
rafters  oj  a  house. 


13 

The  musical  process  begins  with  the  action  of  the  muscular 
fibres,  but  they  do  not  finish  it.  The  motions  of  the  fibres  puts  the 
membrane  in  motion  while  it  is  floating  in  air,  constantly  supplied 
by  the  reservoirs.  The  motions  of  the  muscular  fibres  and  mem- 
branes are  almost  inconceivably  rapid,  and  may  be  compared  to  the 
wings  of  a  fly,  poised  in  air,  which  seem  to  stand  still,  because  the 
naked  eye  cannot  follow  their  velocity.  Here  the  sense  of  touch 
discovers  that  which  the  eye  cannot  perceive.  If  we  apply  the 
point  of  a  fine  needle  to  the  sides  of  the  insect,  a  jarring  sensation 
is  felt,  like  that  imparted  by  filing  a  thin  plate  of  steel.  By  press- 
ing on  the  fasciculi  the  notes  cease.  By  cutting  one  of  the  fasci- 
culi the  music  ceases  on  that  side,  but  continues  on  the  other.  By 
dividing  both  fasciculi,  we  put  an  end  to  all  sound.  By  pressing 
on  the  fasciculi  the  note  ceases,  and  if  we  press  the  air  out  of 
of  the  reservoirs,  the  same  effect  is  produced.  There  is  still  some- 
thing wanted  to  perfect  the  musical  process — an  avenue  to  the  ex- 
ternal air.  For  this  purpose  there  are  two  small  apertures,  one  on 
each  side,  near  the  insertion  of  the  inner  wings,  between  them  and 
the  tympanum.  They  are  capable  of  dilatation  and  contraction,  at 
pleasure,  and  receive  as  much  air  as  is  necessary  to  fill  and  modu- 
late the  note. 

When  we  were  dissecting  and  separating  the  parts  composing  the 
musical  apparatus,  we  were  not  aware  that  we  had  been  anticipated 
by  the  celebrated  Reamur,  in  his  description  of  those  of  the  cica- 
dae,  which  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  those  of  the  locust, 

The  special  economy  and  character  of  the  locust  next  demand 
our  consideration.  We  must  trace  it  from  its  ascent  to  its  death, 
when  it  is  soon  succeeded  by  a  new  generation. 

It  first  appears  at  the  surface  of  the  earth,  in  the  pupa  or  grub 
Jorm,  preparatory  to  the  chrysalis  state — almost  defenceless  and 
very  imperfect  It  is  discovered  in  Maryland  on  or  about  the  tenth 
of  April.  We  found  it  on  that  day,  at  the  four  successive  ascensions 
of  1783,  1800,  1817  and  1834.  We  do  not  assert  that  they  do 
not  appear  sooner  or  later,  nor  that  they  arise  at  the  same  time  in 
all  other  places.  They  are  usually  discovered  by  the  hogs  rooting 


14 

for  them,  and  eating  them  with  avidity,  and  hence  we  do  not  see 
them  otherwise,  unless  we  break  the  upper  stratum  of  the  soil.  By 
removing  it  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  deep,  we  discover  a  great 
number  of  holes  about  Jive  eighths  of  an  inch  in  diameter,  resem- 
bling auger  holes,  six,  eight,  or  ten  inches  apart,  according  to  the 
facilities  of  entrance  when  the  young  were  hatched,  and  extending 
downwards  six,  eight,  ten,  and  sometimes  twelve  inches.  Proceed- 
ing downwards,  the  pupa  is  found  at  the  bottom,  and  appears  to  be 
well  formed,  though  all  its  parts  are  not  entirely  unfolded.  This 
is  more  remarkable  in  the  wings,  which  look  more  like  appenda- 
ges than  real  wings,  lying  close  to  the  body,  and  unfit  for  use. 
This  imperfect  state  of  the  wings  seems  necessary  to  the  safety  of 
the  body,  as  in  a  more  developed  form,  they  would  operate  as  an 
impediment  to  the  ascent,  and  accordingly,  we  find  that,  as  soon  as 
they  emerge  into  a  warmer  and  dryer  atmosphere,  they  become 
harder  and  begin  to  expand.  When  the  pupa  first  appears  the 
body  is  fresh,  soft,  moist  and  so  tender,  that  it  is  easily  injured, 
while  the  extremities  are  hard  and  fit  to  work  their  upward  course, 
and  creep  to  such  objects  as  they  instinctively  seek.  The  whole 
external  appearance,  as  well  as  the  occupation  of  the  pupa,  indi- 
cate a  very  material,  recent  change;  that  they  have  either  sloughed 
or  undergone  some  transformation  preparatory  to  the  chrysalis 
state,  the  next  in  order  of  completion.  We  have,  moreover,  other 
reasons  for  concluding  that  other  important  functional  changes  now 
follow.  During  its  residence  in  the  earth,  the  pupa  is  in  a  state  of 
gradual,  but  slow  growth,  without  any  change,  except  its  incre- 
ment. They  have  been  found,  at  various  periods  after  their  de- 
scent, covered  with  the  same  brown  shell  that  always  invests  them, 
till  the  transformation  they  undergo,  when  they  become  pupae. 
Mr.  Samuel  Feast,  an  intelligent  gardener  and  naturalist,  dug  them 
from  the  earth,  one  and  two  years  before  the  last  ascension,  in  this 
form,  but  not  completely  grown.  Mr.  Ellis  Thomas  found  them 
in  this  state  in  his  garden  eight  years  after  their  descent,  nearly  half 
grown.  These  facts  clearly  demonstrate  that  they  require  the 
whole  time  of  their  subterraneous  existence  to  complete  their 


15 

growth,  and  that  the  grub  or  pupa  form  is  not  assumed  till  a  short 
time  before  they  are  found  at  the  surface  of  the  earth.     While  the 
insect  is  under  ground,  gradually  acquiring  its  growth,  it  performs 
the  functions  of  digestion  and  excrementition,  we  find  it  furnished 
with  a  strait  intestinal  tube,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  expanded 
into  a  wider  receptacle,  and  seems  to  answer  for  a  stomach.     When 
the  pupa  leaves  the  ground  and  the  body  is  almost  matured,  these 
organs  seem  to  be  almost  obliterated,  as  we  find  only  a  wasted 
membrane  that  can  perform  no  function,  a  mere  remnant  of  former 
vitality.     As  little  or  no  growth  is  required  after  the  pupa  state, 
there  is  no  necessity  for  a  stomach,  and  during  the  fleeting  existence 
of  the  insect  in  open  air,  no  excrementitious  matter  can  be  found. 
The  cavity  occupied  by  the  digestive  organs  is  now  filled  by  the 
seminal  fluid  in  the  male  and  the  eggs  in  the  female. 

The  time  between  the  discovery  of  the  pupa,  and  its  final  exit 
from  the  earth,  is  spent  in  maturing  its  skin,  and  acquiring  strength 
to  fit  it  for  more  active  operations,  to  fulfil  its  destination. 

During  the  warmer  hours  of  the  day,  it  is  seen  peeping  from  its 
cell,  seeming  to  enjoy  the  warm,  fresh  air.  At  twilight,  or  if  the 
temperature  fall  during  the  day,  they  retire  to  their  chambers.  In 
this  imperfect  state,  their  progress  is  slow,  and  they  are  unfit  to 
inhabit  the  open  air  for  eight  or  ten  days.  They  then  cast  off  their 
slough,  which  finishes  the  short-lived  chrysalis  state,  and  become 
perfect  locusts  in  twenty  four  hours,  and  sometime  sooner — their 
progress  depending,  in  some  degree,  on  the  temperature  of  the  at- 
mosphere. 

If  we  descend  to  the  bottom  of  their  chambers,  we  find  them  (as 
already  remarked)  six,  eight,  and  sometimes  ten  or  twelve  inches 
deep;  but  as  it  is  generally  supposed  that  their  residence  is  more 
profound,  it  is  necessary  to  shew  that  this  is  an  error,  during  their 
pupa  state  at  least.  To  determine  this  question,  and  some  others 
no  better  settled,  we  selected  for  our  field  of  observation,  an 
ancient  oak  grove  of  several  acres.  The  upper  stratum  is  a  stiff 
loam,  mixed  with  some  gravel,  and  inclining,  in  places,  to  sand  At 
a  depth  of  from  two  to  three  feet  there  is  a  stratum  of  pale  blue 


16 

clay,  rather  compact,  and  well  formed  to  retain  any  impression  it 
might  receive;  and  as  the  holes  are  always  filled  below  with  earth 
removed  from  above,  through  their  whole  course,  their  depth  was 
easily  ascertained.  They  were  uniformly  found  filled  to  within 
six  or  eight  inches  of  the  top,  with  earth  from  which  all  vegetable 
matter  had  been  extracted,  and  packed  so  hard  that  their  depth 
could  not  be  mistaken.  In  no  case  could  we  trace  them  to  the 
blue  stratum  of  clay  below.  From  this  fact  it  is  clear  that  this  is 
the  utmost  depth  of  their  domicil  in  the  latter  stage  of  their  sub- 
terraneous pilgrimage.  All  that  seems  to  be  required  for  the  safety 
of  the  insect  under  ground  is  a  temperature  congenial  to  its  degree 
of  vitality;  and  although  they  descend  deeper  in  search  of  ali- 
ment, previous  to  the  assumption  of  the  pupa  state,  it  is  clear  there 
can  be  no  necessity  for  it  after  it.  The  late  Mr.  William  Patter- 
son, of  this  city,  saw  them  three  feet  below  the  surface  of  the 
earth,  when  they  were  very  small,  not  quite  three  years  old.  The 
extent  of  the  descent  in  this  state  is  also  confirmed  by  inspecting  the 
bottom  of  their  chambers,  where  we  always  find  a  certain  quantity 
of  refuse  matter,  hard  and  compact,  in  the  form  of  a  plug.  This  is 
neither  of  the  consistence  or  colour  of  the  surrounding  soil,  but  fecal 
matter,  strongly  cemented,  stiffer  and  more  clay-like.  It  would  ap- 
pear, from  these  facts  and  reasoning,  as  a  consequence,  that  the  ob- 
jection so  often  made  to  Jihe  superficial  descent  of  the  locust  is 
futile.  It  has  been  remarked  that  the  ground,  during  our  cold  win- 
ters, sometimes  freezes  below  the  depth  of  eight  or  ten  inches.  Before 
the  chambers  are  constructed,  they  can  descend  as  low  as  their  in- 
stinct directs  them  to  be  agreeable,  and  certainly  do,  as  we  never 
find  any  diminution  of  numbers  at  any  ascension  after  the  hardest 
winters.  If  we  examine  the  construction  of  the  chambers  which 
seem  to  be  intended  to  protect  them,  in  their  most  tender  state,  we 
find  them  ample  and  admirably  formed  for  that  purpose.  The  walls 
are  thick  and  strong,  cemented  so  firmly  that  water  will  not  pene- 
trate them,  nor  heat  easily  escape,  preserving  nearly  a  uniform 
temperature. 

The  superficial  descent  of  the  locust,  and  the  construction  of  its 


17 

temporary  dwelling,  is  analogous  to  the  habits  of  other  animals, 
especially  the  hybirnating,  such  as  alligators,  tortoises,  frogs  and 
others  which  immerse  themselves  beneath  their  natural  element 
into  a  uniform  temperature,  merely  high  enough  to  be  susceptible 
of  excitement  by  the  vernal  return  of  heat.  Although  the  locust 
does  not  lie  torpid,  instinct  directs  it  to  provide  for  its  own  preser- 
vation by  insuring  a  steady  temperature  that  answers  all  the  pur- 
poses of  its  economy. 

Is  not  the  migration  of  birds  regulated  by  the  same  principle? 
They  instinctively  seek  more  congenial  climes  to  evade  the  seda- 
tive influence  of  cold. 

A  more  minute  account  of  those  apartments  will  shew  how  well 
they  are  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  self-preservation,  and  how 
much  better  they  are  directed  by  instinct  than  they  could  have  been 
by  any  contrivance  human  reason  could  invent. 

On  a  first  view  of  the  external  opening  of  the  chambers  we 
would  suppose  that  they  run  in  a  perpendicular  direction;  but  we 
find  them  deviating  more  or  less:  some  running  horizontally,  others 
at  obtuse  or  acute  angles,  while  some  form  entire  circles.  All 
these  varieties,  and  their  modifications,  are  found  where  there  is  no 
impediment  to  a  perpendicular  ascent,  which  they  meet  some- 
times. They  come  up  occasionally  under  the  roots  of  trees,  floors, 
logs,  stones  and  pavements  laid  since  their  descent.  In  such  cases 
they  pursue  any  course  by  which  they  can  reach  the  surface;  but 
they  sometimes  fail  from  the  distance  they  have  to  travel.  We 
found  many  that  had  perished  under  a  brick  pavement  that  had 
been  laid  over  them  after  their  descent. 

The  roofs  of  their  tenements  are  neatly  arched,  and  so  firmly 
cemented  that  water  is  never  found  in  them,  though  all  th6  sur- 
rounding grounds  are  overflowed  and  perfectly  saturated.  This 
defence  against  an  element  that  would  be  destructive,  is  to  be  at- 
tributed to  the  workmanship  of  the  cells,  the  interior  of  which  are 
varnished  with  a  secretion  that  seals  them  hermetically,  from  bot- 
tom to  top,  and  makes  them  water  proof.  The  locust  is  not  singu- 
lar in  this  provision  against  inundation  and  drowning.  The  cray- 


18 

fish,*  with  other  amphibious  shellfish,  and  some  insects,  build  houses 
along  the  margins  of  water  courses,  where  the  soil  is  too  wet  and 
cold,  and  rear  them  above  tide  water.  They  resemble  small  chim- 
nies,  and  are  so  firmly  cemented  that  water  will  not  penetrate  their 
walls.  The  glutinous  secretion  they  employ  resembles  the  slime  on 
the  bodies  of  snails,  which  seems  to  be  used  for  the  same  purpose. 

When  the  locust  takes  its  final  leave  of  its  cell,  it  selects  the  still- 
est and  most  private  hour,  about  day-break,  to  guard  against  the 
accidents  to  which  it  is  liable  in  so  weak  and  defenceless  a  state, 
till  it  can  fly.  Some  cannot  divest  themselves  of  their  sloughs 
under  a  cold  damp  atmosphere.  Others  ascend  at  so  great  a  dis- 
tance from  any  object  by  which  they  can  climb  up,  that  they  perish 
before  they  can  get  the  benefit  of  the  sun.  Great  numbers  are 
devoured  by  hogs,  squirrels,  all  kinds  of  poultry  and  birds,  which 
live  and  fatten  on  them. 

No  sooner  has  the  pupa  issued  from  the  earth  than  we  perceive 
a  change  which  leads  almost  immediately  to  the  divestment  of  its 
coat.  It  becomes  browner  and  harder,  more  particularly  on  the 
back,  between  the  head  and  wings.  The  latter  are  still  more  de- 
veloped, but  wear  a  delicate,  silk-like  appearance.  The  wings 
become  amber,  and  the  wing  bones  assume  a  bright  orange  colour. 

The  process  by  which  they  extricate  themselves  from  the  slough 
is  slow  at  first,  though  soon  finished.  It  is  similar  to  the  shedding 
of  a  crab,  except  the  part  through  which  the  body  is  drawn  from 
the  shell.  That  of  the  crab  open  laterally  at  the  side,  opposite 
the  eyes  and  mouth — the  locust  longitudinally,  in  the  middle  of  the 
back.  They  are  both  disengaged  by  the  muscles  of  their  legs, 
with  their  claws  constantly  in  motion  till  the  process  is  finished. 

We  saw  the  first  that  had  sloughed  on  the  eighteenth  of  May,  a 
few  on  the  nineteenth,  and  from  that  time  they  multiplied  almost 
incalculably,  till  the  twenty  fifth.  From  that  day  till  the  twenty 
third  of  June  the  numbers  declined  in  the  same  ratio.  On  the 
fourth  of  July  we  found  very  few,  and  on  the  fifth  one. 

We  found  the  first  pair  in  sexual  union  on  the  twenty  fjth  of  May, 

*  Cancer  Astacus. 


19 

but  this  was  considered  precocious,  as  we  could  find  no  others  till 
the  first  of  June.  On  the  third  we  saw  a  considerable  number, 
which  increased  daily,  and  then  declined.  On  the  thirteenth  we 
found  only  a  solitary  instance  of  the  last  melancholy  note  of  an 
expiring  race,  to  be  heard  no  more  for  seventeen  years. 

On  the  fourth  of  June  we  found  that  a  few  boughs  had  been 
operated  on  by  the  female,  and  one  on  the  first.  The  greatest  de- 
posite  of  eggs  was  on  the  tenth,  and  declined  till  the  sixteenth, 
when  we  found  only  one. 

The  principal  male  organ  of  generation  lies  concealed  in  a 
sheathe  at  the  lower  extremity  of  the  abdomen,  from  which  it 
scarcely  protrudes.  When  they  come  sexually  together,  the  fe- 
male embraces  the  male,  and  holds  him  in  close  contact,  by  means 
of  a  hook  on  each  side,  turned  backwards,  and  he  is  immoveable 
till  the  process  of  impregnation  is  finished.  The  union  continues 
from  fifteen  to  eighteen  hours.  When  they  separate  the  female  is 
frequently  seen  flying  away  with  half  the  male,  broken  off  in  the 
middle  region  of  his  body. 

The  male  and  female  survive  only  two  or  three  days  after  they 
have  performed  their  respective  parts  in  the  process  of  generation. 
The  male  dies  first,  and  the  female  lives  the  same  time  after  the 
deposition  of  her  eggs.  They  emaciate-rapidly,  and  at  their  death 
are  skeletons  as  light  and  void  of  substance  as  the  exuviae  cast  off 
by  the  crysalis.  The  body  is  without  muscular  substance,  the  ab- 
domen empty,  and  no  moisture  to  be  found  but  a  little  in  the  head 
and  chest. 

The  most  remarkable  parts  of  this  extraordinary  insect  are  those 
of  the  female — the  machinery  by  which  she  works  in  effecting  a 
depository  for  her  eggs.  The  ovipositor  is  lodged  in  a  groove,  and 
lies  at  the  terminating  ring  of  the  abdomen,  and  the  oviduct  passes 
through  its  centre.  When  not  in  use,  it  is  concealed,  except  a 
minute  point  at  its  lower  extremity.  It  is  composed  of  three  dis- 
tinct pieces,  connected  at  the  sides  by  the  nicest  tongue  and  groove, 
by  which  the  two  side  pieces  play  up  and  down  upon  the  centrepiece. 
The  material  of  these  parts  is  similar  in  appearance  to  tortoise 


so 

shell,  dark  brown  and  elastic,  but  more  brittle,  and  bent  to  a  cer- 
tain extent,  fractures  short,  like  a  pipe  stem.  The  edges  and  points 
of  the  side  pieces  are  serrated,  Jorming  perfect  saws,  while  their  flat- 
tened surfaces  form  rasps  equally  perfect.  When  the  instrument  is 
protruded  and  examined  by  the  microscope,  the  denticulations  of 
the  saws  are  clearly  perceived.  There  are  fijteen  teeth  on  each 
side,  symmetrically  arranged,  tapering  awray  in  fineness  towards  the 
point,  where  we  find  three  or  four  more,  so  small  that  it  is  scarcely 
possible  to  determine,  by  the  best  glasses,  whether  there  are  three 
or  four.  In  some  there  appeared  to  be  three,  in  others  four. 

Previous  to  the  application  of  the  instruments,  the  female  de- 
posites  a  fluid  on  the  part  to  be  operated  on.  It  seems  to  be  in- 
tended as  an  emollient,  and  probably  to  mark  the  extent  of  her 
work.  It  is  a  secretion  from  the  inner  surface  of  the  oviduct,  so 
exquisitely  fine  that  it  is  only  to  be  seen  by  a  fine  glass.  The  prac- 
tice of  softening  the  place  of  deposite  for  eggs  is  not  uncommon 
among  insects  and  amphibious  animals.  Some  of  the  tortoises  use 
their  urine  to  soften  the  surface  of  the  ground,  that  they  may  ex- 
cavate the  hard  soil  with  more  ease,  and  deposite  their  eggs 
quicker. 

When  the  female  selects  a  limb,  she  goes  formally  and  indus- 
triously to  work,  and  soon  finishes  it.  She  raises  her  body,  ex- 
tends the  point  of  the  instrument,  and  with  her  whole  weight  pierces 
the  bark  with  the  upper  point  of  the  centre  piece  or  chisel,  which  is 
like  the  flattened  point  oj  a  thumb  lancet,  making  way  for  the  side 
pieces  or  saws.  Though  the  puncture  is  very  minute,  scarcely 
perceptiblea  it  is  sufficient  for  a  place  of  entry,  and  a  quick  sawing 
motion  now  commences,  and  continues  till  the  apertures  are  large 
enough  to  admit  the  other  side  piece,  which  follows  with  the  like 
motion.  As  soon  as  the  blade  point  is  fairly  inserted,  say  the 
twelfth  of  an  inch,  she  presses  on  the  part  attached  to  her  body, 
and  then,  by  a  lever,  raises  the  ends  of  the  divided  fibre ;  she  then 
adjusts  the  three  different  parts  of  the  instrument,  forming  two  saws 
by  its  edges,  two  rasps  by  its  flattened  sides,  and  a  perforator  or  chisel 
by  its  point.  The  uses  of  the  perforator  and  saws  are  easily  per- 


81 

ceived,  but  the  design  of  the  rasps  would  not  be  discovered  with- 
out seeing  and  closely  observing  the  progress  of  the  operation  in 
its  different  stages.     They  seem  to  be  intended  to  comminute  and 
divide  the  rough  ligneous  fibres  furrowed  up  by  the  saws,  and  thus 
prepare  a  softer  and  smoother  bed  for  the  eggs.     While  the  female 
is  sawing  away  the  sides,  and  rasping  up  the  ends  of  the  fibres 
below,  she  withdraws  the  instrument  occasionally  and  reinserts  it, 
till  she  shall  have  penetrated  the  full  length  of  the  incision,  in  a 
direction  obliquely  downwards,  towards  the  pith,  which  is  never 
touched,  because  it  would  not  be  a  proper  nidus,  and  a  deeper  cut 
would  weaken  the  ligneous  fibre,  and  it  would  be  easier  broken. 
As  soon  as  the  opening  is  made  deep  enough,  she  enlarges  it  exter- 
nally, by  plying  the  saws  along  its  sides  and  the  rasps  to  the  top 
and  bottom.     She  now  withdraws  the  instrument  for  a  moment, 
and  reinserts  it  to  its  full  length,  depositing  two  eggs  in  quick  suc- 
cession.    She  withdraws  it  again,  reinserts  it,  and  deposites  two 
more,  till  she  shall  have  laid  from  ten  to  twenty,  but  never  an  odd 
number.     The  number  in  a  single  fissure  depends  on  the  size  of  the 
perforation,  and  that  on  the  bough  which  may  be  crooked,  knotty, 
or  otherwise  defective3  or  occasionally  rotten  in  the  middle.     The 
eggs  are  set  uniformly  in  two  rows,  close  together,  their  ends  in- 
clining downwards.     They  are  one  twelfth  of  an  inch  long,  and 
one  sixteenth  in  diameter,  tapering  to  an  obtuse  point.     They  are 
of  a  pearl-like  white.     She  is  about  fifteen  minutes  in  preparing  a 
single  nidus  and  depositing  the  eggs;  but  it  is  not  uncommon  for 
her  to  make  fifteen  or  twenty  fissures  in  the  same  limb,  more  or  less, 
according  to  its  fitness.     She  frequently  shifts  from  one  limb  to 
another,  and  from  tree  to  tree,  before  she  can  deposite  all  her  eggs, 
the  whole  number  of  which  varies  from  four  to  five  hundred.     She 
seldom  selects  a  limb  more  than  a  quarter  of  an  inch  in  diameter, 
though  often  a  smaller  one.     Both  the  upper  and  lower  sides  are 
sometimes  perforated,  but  never  directly  opposite  to  each  other. 
The  age  and  texture  of  the  wood  seem  to  be  disregarded.     A 
thorny  or  abruptly  crooked  bough  seems  to  annoy  her  in  searching 
for  a  place  of  entry.     We  were  amused  by  the  maneouvres  and 
apparent  disappointment  of  several  that  had  lighted  upon  a  flourish- 


ing  aurelia  spinatu.  Three  of  them  left  it  precipitately  after  light- 
ing on  ten  or  a  dozen  branches,  which  they  inspected  closely,  till 
one  more  persevering  than  the  rest,  found  a  single  fit  place  of  de- 
posite,  finished  her  work  and  departed. 

There  are  but  few  trees  and  shrubs  not  invaded,  and  the  larger 
under  vines  are  not  exempted.  The  younger  rose  and  raspberry 
bushes  were  frequently  perforated  immediately  above  the  ground, 
where  the  stock  was  large  enough.  We  found  no  forest  tree  un- 
touched, except  the  pine,  with  the  whole  tiribinthenate  class,  ex- 
cept a  few  of  the  white  cedar.* 

We  see  the  perfection  of  instinct  in  the  selection  of  boughs  of  a 
small  dimension.  Those  that  are  smaller  are  more  tender  and  suc- 
culent, affording  a  milder  and  more  copious  nourishment  for  the 
embryo,  while  a  larger  size  could  not  be  well  operated  on  on  ac- 
count of  their  larger  growth  and  hardness.  As  a  considerable  force 
is  required  to  introduce  the  instrument,  it  is  necessary  that  the  fe- 
male should  grasp  the  whole  circumference  of  the  limb,  to  steady 
herself,  and  concentrate  her  strength.  If  she  were  to  attempt  a 
larger  limb,  her  legs  would  be  so  much  distended  that  her  muscu- 
lar power  would  be  diminished,  and  she  could  not  take  a  firm  hold 
with  her  claws. 

The  punctured  branches  decay  and  die  after  the  young  have  left 
them,  and  we  have  some  evidence  of  the  injury  they  have  received 
before  that  time.  The  leaves  becomes  yellow  from  the  failure  of 
a  perfect  circulation,  the  medium  of  which  is  cut  off,  or  much  im- 
paired. They  do  not  fall  off  immediately,  unless  broken  by  a 
heavy  wind,  but  hang  by  the  bark,  which  is  more  pliant  and  tough- 
er than  the  liburnum  in  which  the  eggs  are  lodged. 

The  great  number  of  dead  boughs  we  perceive  after  an  ascen- 
sion, that  give  a  chequered  appearance  to  our  groves  and  forests, 
only  contrast  living  green  with  dead  yellow,  with  little  or  no  inju- 
ry. Old  forest  trees  and  orchards  suffer  but  little,  and  some  of 
them  that  are  very  luxuriant  seem  to  improve  under  the  pruning 
knife  of  the  locust.  The  younger  articles  of  the  nursery,  and  or- 


*  Cupressus  Thycides. 


23 

namental  shrubbery,  are  the  principal  sufferers.  The  grafts  or 
buds  of  the  last  summer,  grown  only  a  few  feet,  with  a  single  strait 
stem,  are  destroyed,  or  if,  by  chance,  a  bud  be  left  beneath  the 
wound,  a  year's  growth  is  lost,  and  the  beauty  of  its  form  spoiled. 

We  must  now  trace  the  progress  of  the  embryo  from  its  incuba- 
tion till  it  descends  to  its  long  subterraneous  abode,  where  we 
found  it. 

The  time  at  which  the  eggs  are  fit  for  deposite  is  forty  eight 
hours  after  impregnation,  or  within  a  fraction  of  that  time.  They 
are  so  transparent,  that  we  can  see  indistinctly  the  features  of  the 
future  insect  through  the  shell,  and  with  a  good  glass  they  are  still 
more  visible.  The  shell  wears  a  pellucid,  membranous  appear- 
ance; but  notwithstanding  their  apparent  delicacy,  they  retain  their 
contents  longer  than  other  eggs  either  of  insects  or  birds.  They 
hatch  in  fifty  two  days.  We  saw  a  deposite  on  the  fifth  of  June, 
and  marked  the  spot,  and  witnessed  the  parturient  process  on  the 
twenty  eighth  of  July.  On  the  fifteenth  day  after  the  deposite  we 
discovered  a  manifest  change  of  colour  and  form  in  the  eggs,  which 
increased  gradually  till  the  embryo  assumed  the  form  of  a  worm, 
without  legs,  and  a  thicker  cream  colour  succeeded  to  the  shining, 
pearl-like  white.  Instead  of  the  previous  well-defined  shape,  it 
now  becomes  crooked,  and  the  form  of  the  head  is  obvious,  while 
the  body  takes  on  the  form  of  a  silk-worm  wrapped  up,  in  a  cream- 
coloured  cocoon.  The  most  distinct  feature  is  now  the  eye,  which 
is  well  defined  ten  days  before  the  shell  is  broken.  The  rings  of 
the  body,  and  the  legs  are  easily  distinguished,  laid  close  to  the 
abdomen.  Immediately  before  birth  a  distinct  motion  is  to  be  ob- 
served in  the.  insect  in  the  eggs,  resembling  the  jerking  of  the  tails  of 
butterflies  and  moths,  in  the  chrysalis  state,  when  they  are  disturbed. 
We  took  several  nests  from  a  bough  marked  for  observation  at  the 
exact,  time  of  maturity,  and  soon  perceived  the  signs  of  parturition. 
We  placed  some  of  the  eggs  between  two  scales  of  mica,  and  ap- 
plied the  microscope.  The  power  of  the  glass  brought  upwards 
°f  fifty  within  its  focus,  and  the  whole  process  was  clear  and  satis- 
factory. Temperature  exerts  a  considerable  influence  on  the  pro- 


24 

cess.  It  is  accelerated  by  heat,  and  retarded  by  a  low  temperature. 
Those  we  held  in  our  hands  hatched  sooner  than  those  on  the  limbs 
at  the  temperature  of  the  air.  The  act  of  delivery  differs  but  litlle 
from  that  of  the  chrysalis.  A  rupture  of  the  fetal  membrane  cover- 
ing the  back  is  first  effected  by  muscular  motion.  The  insect 
draws  its  body  upwards,  and  seems  to  swell,  whilst  it  throws  its 
lower  extremities  to  and  fro,  labouring  in  all  possible  attitudes  to 
extricate  itself.  It  draws  out  its  head  slowly,  disengages  its  fore 
legs,  and  in  a  few  minutes  its  whole  body.  The  moment  it  is  set 
at  liberty  it  begins  to  caper  as  if  it  were  in  a  new  state  of  existence, 
seeming  to  exult  in  its  delivery.  For  a  moment  it  seems  to  be  at  a 
loss  what  to  do,  till  instinct  begins  to  operate  and  directs  it  to  its 
proper  element.  As  soon  as  it  is  freed  from  its  shell  it  falls  to  the 
ground.  It  does  not  run  nor  creep  down  the  body  of  the  tree,  nor 
cast  itself  off  precipitately;  but  runs  to  the  side  of  the  limb, 
loosens  its  claws,  and  falls  to  the  ground  by  an  instinctive  rule,  for 
from  whatsoever  height  it  may  have  descended,  it  sustains  no  inju- 
ry. When  it  inters  itself  it  descends  by  the  side  of  some  vegeta- 
ble root,  which  is  its  first  and  only  aliment  under  ground. 

In  this  state  it  is  blind,  and  acts  by  the  sense  of  touch,  and  feels 
its  way  downward  by  its  antennas.  Although  its  eyes  are  promi- 
nent, they  are  covered  by  an  opaque  film,  through  which  the  rays 
of  light  cannot  pass.  What  would  be  the  use  of  vision  to  an  in- 
sect destined  to  dwell  in  darkness  sixteen  years  and  nine  months  ? 
Perfectly  formed  eyes  would  be  an  incumbrance,  while  the  mem- 
brane that  invests  them  defends  them  from  injuries  in  passing 
through  a  grass-irritating  medium.  In  this  state  the  young  insect 
shews,  also,  the  rudiments  of  wings,  but  they  are  not  unfolded, 
because  they  are  not  wanted.  What  would  be  their  use  when 
adult  age,  the  only  time  they  could  use  them,  is  almost  as  distant 
as  that  of  a  child  born  at  the  same  time  ?  While  it  has  fit  for  use 
all  the  parts  required  beneath  the  soil,  it  is  restrained  in  the  use  of 
others  till  it  shall  have  passed  through  a  long  infancy,  a  short  ado- 
lescence, and  puts  on  the  toga  virilis  at  seventeen. 


25 

We  must  be  indulged  while  we  draw  a  further  comparison  be- 
tween the  newly  born  progeny  and  the  pupa  as  we  find  it  sixteen 
years  and  nine  months  after:  the  odd  three  months,  from  its  ap- 
pearance at  the  surface  of  the  earth  till  its  death  in  the  adult  and 
last  state,  completing  the  whole  circle. 

When  the  young  emerge  from  their  native  place,  they  are  one 
sixteenth  oj  an  inch  long,  apparently,  on  a  superficial  view,  nearly 
perfect,  but  with  some  parts  better  developed  than  others.  With 
three  pair  of  legs,  one  before  and  two  behind,  the  former  resemble 
those  of  the  pupa — are  strong  and  muscular,  armed  with  hard, 
sharp  claws,  while  the  latter  are  slender  and  more  delicate,  with 
their  hooks  reversed,  being  intended  for  pushing,  while  the  fore 
legs  are  employed  in  pulling  in  the  same  direction,  so  that  they 
work  together,  assisting  each  other. 

The  antennae  are  longer  in  proportion  than  those  of  the  pupa, 
and  the  whole  body  longer  in  proportion  to  its  diameter.  The 
whole  body  of  the  young  locust  is  thickly  covered  with  /iair, 
which  is  more  remarkable  on  the  sides,  tail  and  antennae.  This 
covering  seems  to  furnish  some  defence  against  external  impressions, 
and  keeps  them  warm  in  their  tender,  infantile  state.  The  promi- 
nences we  find  on  the  shoulders  shew  the  rudiments  of  unfolded 
wings,  as  in  the  pupa.  The  eyes  are  of  a  deep  orange  red  colour. 
The  hooks  of  the  claws  incline  to  red.  The  snout  is  much  longer 
in  proportion  than  that  of  the  pupa,  and  lies  flat  in  the  chest.  The 
head  seems  longer,  also,  but  this  appearance  is  deceptive.  It  seems 
to  project  considerably,  and  this  gives  it  the  appearance  of  the 
ewer  mouths  of  certain  small  fish,  the  upper  lip  only  projecting, 
and  is  only  an  extension  of  the  skin  beyond  the  extreme  point  of 
the  real  head.  This  apparent  deformity  is  subsequently  adjusted 
by  the  perfect  developement  of  the  other  parts  of  the  body.  The 
membraneous  extension  is  found  filled  with  a  serous-like  fluid  that 
resembles  the  fluid  under  the  cuticle  vesicated  by  Cantharides. 

We  have  seen  the  dangers  to  which  the  locust  was  exposed  till 
it  shook  off  its  chrysalis  form  and  was  able  to  fly.  They  are  few 
and  inconsiderable  compared  to  those  to  which  the  fetal  state  is 


26 

liable.  It  is  probable  that  not  one  third  of  the  eggs  come  to  per- 
fection, and  were  it  not  for  the  myriads  that  are  laid,  there  would  be 
a  slender  account  of  the  next  generation,  and  in  not  many  more,  the 
whole  race  would  be  extinct.  Besides  the  great  numbers  of  eggs  and 
young  picked  from  the  boughs  by  woodpeckers  and  other  birds,  they 
are  constantly  infested  by  legions  of  ants  before  and  after  they  are 
hatched.  Even  the  little  red  species,  the  most  diminutive  of  the 
race,  will  shoulder  the  eggs  and  the  young,  and  bear  them  off  to 
their  cells.  In  all  our  researches  we  found  them  in  battalions,  sys- 
tematically arrayed  for  wholesale  plunder  and  devastation.  They 
are  probably  the  most  numerous  of  all  the  insects  on  our  globe, 
and  are  found  in  all  nations  and  all  latitudes. 

The  mode  of  subsistence  in  the  earth,  from  the  time  the  young 
descends  till  it  appears  at  the  surface  in  the  pupa  state,  does  not 
seem  to  have  been  conjectured.  We  have  already  suggested  that 
the  young,  when  it  falls  to  the  ground,  descends  by  the  side  of  a 
vegetable  root.  It  seeks  first  a  penetrable  spot,  and  then  the 
fibrous  roots  of  vegetables  that  insure  its  means  of  subsistence.  It 
moves  along  the  particles  of  earth  through  those  interstices  that 
are  found  in  all  soils,  and  furnish  a  passage  to  any  necessary  depth. 
It  does  not  dig  a  passage  for  which  its  tender  limbs  would  be  unfit, 
and  which  is  unnecessary  from  the  constitution  of  the  soil,  if  we 
view  it  through  a  good  glass.  We  find  the  particles  loosely  ag- 
gregated, resembling  heaps  of  stone,  through  which  mice  and  rats 
find  their  way  with  ease.  The  soil  is  more  loosely  connected  by 
the  insertion  of  numerous  small  roots  with  which  it  is  every  where 
intersected  to  a  certain  depth,  and  of  which  there  are  ten  times  as 
many  as  could  be  seen  by  the  naked  eye.  In  all  places  they  are 
found  attached  to  the  tender  fibrils  of  plants.  When  they  are  dis- 
turbed or  driven  from  them,  they  seek  for  others  the  moment  they 
are  at  liberty.  This  is  their  only  aliment,  not  the  substance  of  the 
roots  of  plants,  which  they  cannot  divide  and  comminute  without 
teeth  or  jaws  to  use  them,  but  the  more  aerial  exhalation  from  their 
surface.  This  well  established  fact  would  seem  to  account  for  the 
slowness  of  their  growth,  and  furnish  a  reason  for  so  long  a  subter- 
raneous residence. 


21 

We  must  devote  a  lew  words  to  popular  credulity,  which  has 
circulated  so  many  marvellous  and  idle  tales  of  the  venomous  cha- 
racter of  this  poor,  defenceless  insect.  The  very  organism  of  the 
locust  refutes  them  all.  It  has  no  jaws,  teeth,  sting,  or  any  other 
instrument  by  which  it  can  injure  or  annoy  the  most  diminutive 
insect — no  weapon,  offensive  or  defensive.  It  cannot  defend  itself 
against  an  ant  or  a  fly.  We  have  handled  them,  male  and  female, 
time  after  time.  We  have  irritated  and  mutilated  them,  but  never 
could  provoke  them  to  resentment. 

As  it  is  not  probable  that  we  shall  witness  the  next  ascension  in 
1851,  we  leave  to  our  successors  the  task  of  filling  up  the  void  we 
have  left,  and  correcting  our  errors.  We  expect  from  th^m  what 
time  and  circumstance  would  not  permit  us  to  accomplish.  We 
do  not  know  exactly  the  increment  of  the  body  from  the  time  the 
young  descends  into  the  earth  till  we  discover  the  pupa  at  the  sur- 
face of  the  soil;  though,  from  the  facts  stated,  we  think  it  may  be 
calculated  without  much  inaccuracy.  We  have  not  had  the  means 
of  defining  distinctly  the  period  at  which  they  begin  to  construct 
their  chambers,  though  it  may  be  nearly  approached  by  reasoning 
from  the  facts  we  have  mentioned.  It  is  certain  that  no  animal 
builds  a  house  for  itself  till  it  arrives  at  adult  age.  And,  in  fine, 
although  nothing  was  made  in  vain,  we  know  not  what  link  the 
locust  forms  in  the  chain  of  animated  nature. 

Baltimore,  November  19,  1834. 


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